News 08:00

BULLETIN 23 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Load-shedding is upgraded to stage 6
# Six more Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are freed
# And cricket: Australia chases down a huge target to beat England in the Champions Trophy

# Eskom announced stage 6 load-shedding had to be implemented at 1.30 this morning until further notice due to multiple unit trips at its Camden power station in Mpumalanga. This follows after stage 3 was implemented yesterday, which Eskom ascribes to multiple unit trips at Majuba in the same province. South Africa experienced about ten months without interruption until late last month, when load-shedding was introduced for less than two days. Twenty days with uninterrupted power supply followed.

But Eskom says it’s summer outlook for 1 September last year to 31 March this year remains unchanged, projecting a largely load-shedding-free period due to structural generation improvements. Spokesperson Daphne Mokoena says this is supported by a stable power system and adequate emergency reserves. She emphasises this progress underscores the success in enhancing generation capacity and maintaining a reliable electricity supply ahead of winter 2025:

# Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says hostages being released by Hamas have returned home from the depths of hell in Gaza. Six hostages were handed over in exchange for Israel releasing about 600 Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu says they can now begin the process of healing and recovery alongside their families. Earlier, the body of Shiri Bibas was returned a day after Israel said a body handed over wasn’t that of the young mother. Both her two young sons also died.

# Cricket: Australia stunned England by chasing down a huge target in their Champions Trophy match in Lahore, Pakistan. England posted 351 for eight, anchored by Ben Duckett’s 165 and Joe Root’s 68. Australia’s second wicket fell on 27, but then Josh Inglis’s century and half-centuries by Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey got their innings going. They reached the target with five wickets and 15 balls remaining. A blockbuster is expected in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates today when Pakistan and India face each other.  

# And finally: Save South Africa’s president, Sydney Monnakgotla, met with Wits University students currently on a hunger strike over financial exclusion. Monnakgotla emphasised the necessity for universities to support students pursuing postgraduate studies. He notes that many undergraduate degrees have diminished in value, making advanced qualifications essential. The movement’s spokesperson, Tebogo Mashilompane, says the meeting aimed to finalise fundraising efforts to assist the affected students:

Stay tuned for more news………….